Antique Machinery Fall Festival in Litchfield HIlls

This year marks the 30th annual Fall Festival hosted by the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association on 31 Kent Cornwall Rd. in Kent on September 26, 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

This event features special demonstrations, vendors and food along with  the many permanent exhibits of the Association that includes Industrial Hall, a mining museum, a tractor hall, a narrow gage working railroad and the Cream Hill Agricultural School.

Highlights of this event include an American #1 sawmill with plenty of logs to be cut into planks.There will be demonstrations throughout the weekend of the sawmill, as well as other wood handling machinery including an antique planer, a splitter, and maybe even a drag saw.

Another popular spot is the blacksmith's shop headed up by Skip Kern who will be showing visitors the art of blacksmithing. In the Industrial Hall of Steam, Conrad Milster will be giving talks and live demonstrations of  various antique steam engines. The Association hopes to see their Nagle-Corliss engine in operation for this show. A highlight in Industrial Hall is the Associations newest acquisition, a very early (possibly Ames) engine, on loan from the New York Hall of Science.

In the Industrial Hall of Steam, Conrad Milster will be giving talks and live demonstrations of the Association's various antique steam engines. The Association hopes to see their Nagle-Corliss engine in operation for this show. Visitors will also see the Association's newest acquisition, a very early (possibly Ames) engine, that came to them in beautiful condition, on loan from the New York Hall of Science.

There will be Lumber Jack/Jill demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival, featuring Shannon Strong, a well-known local fitness trainer and Lumber Jill. The show will feature demonstrations of handsaw and ax skills and is always very entertaining. Shannon is also a personal trainer, strength trainer, specializing in core training, and mind-body fitness. Demonstration times will be announced at the show.

Don't miss the Friday evening spaghetti w/meatballs and sausage. There's a limited number of tickets available, so buy them in advance at the food pavilion. The dinner is from 5:30 to 7:00 PM and will be held at the picnic pavilion unless inclement weather forces it inside the Industrial Hall. Tickets are $10 per person. Menu includes spaghetti with meatballs and sausage, salad, Italian bread, soft drinks, coffee and dessert. All proceeds benefit the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association.

Parking is free in the lower parking field and a free shuttle bus will bring you to the main gate.

For more information http://www.ctamachinery.com and for area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Sharon Audubon Enchanted Forest and Kids' Day

A Bear Greets Children in the Enchanted Forest Family fun is in the works at the Sharon Audubon Center the last two weekends in October.  Both events are "non scary" and   geared toward families with children pre-K through 2nd grade. The Audubon's popular Enchanted Forest will be held on Saturday, October 20th. Guided groups will meet friendly costumed animal characters along a candlelit trail and hear how the animals live their lives on the Audubon grounds. After the tour, which lasts approximately 45 minutes, participants can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate inside the Center building before taking a hayride back to the parking area. This non-scary program is ideal for children up to 8 years old and their families. Tours begin every 10-15 minutes between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00pm. Participants should bring an extra flashlight.   Admission is $4 per person. Children under 2 are free. Pararde on Kids Day! Audubon Kids' Day is taking place on Sunday, October 28th from 12-3pm. This is a fun, autumn afternoon for young children and their families and features brand new carnival-type games for 2012, kids' crafts, live animals from "The Nature of Things," a haybale maze, haywagon rides, professional face painting with glitter tattoos and food. Children are encouraged to come in costume and join in the costume parade around the Center grounds at 2:30. The event is held rain or shine. Admission is $7.00 per carload. The Sharon Audubon Center is located on Route 4 in Sharon, for more information, contact the Audubon Center at (860) 364-0520 or http://sharon.audubon.org.

New Canaan Nature Center's Fall Fair Oct. 13

Traditional Fall Fair activities will return to New Canaan Nature Center's annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m such as pony rides, a "haunted" woodland trail, apple sling shots, a hay maze, cupcake and pumpkin decorating, and fire engine rides on New Canaan's antique fire engine, Old Faithful.

The giant bungee jump, one of last year's most popular attractions will also be back along with the "Kids On The Go" obstacle course and other inflatable rides.A new highlight this year will be a special visit by the New Canaan Rams Varsity Football team and coaches!  The team will greet kids at 11:00am and face off in a "red" vs. "black" tug-o-war which kids 10 & under can participate in.

The Fall Fair will feature a wide range of entertainment and live music throughout the day.  The 5th Annual Apple Pie Eating contest will also take place with categories for youth and adults.  There is an entry fee ($5 for youth and $15 for adults) and prizes will be awarded. Other live shows include birds of prey and live animal demonstrations throughout the day.

A wide range of fresh foods will be available to purchase throughout the day, including grilled hot dogs, pulled pork and vegetarian sandwiches, corn dogs, pizza, hot soup and hot and cold beverages.
A variety of homemade baked goods will be for sale courtesy of Nature Center volunteers.

Admission to the Fall Fair is free and parking is available at St. Mark's and the First Presbyterian Church.  Tickets can be purchased for $1 each for the activities and food, which range from 1-7 tickets.    For more information about the Fall Fair visitwww.NewCanaanNature.org of call (203) 966-9577.

Pets, Portraits & Pastries, Gallery Opening at the Woodward House

L to R

Heather Norris, Heather Norris Photography. Lisa Banik, Animals for Life Middlebury. Adele Johnson, The Woodward House.

Bethlehem's Woodward House, on the Green  is calling all canine companions! On Sunday, September 30, from 2-4PM, The Woodward House will host a gallery opening on behalf of  Animals For Life.  The show in the gallery titled Pets, Portraits & Pastries'  is highlighting the fun photography of dogs by Heather Norris.

Adele Johnson, owner of Woodward House and Heather Norris Photography will be donating all proceeds to Animals for Life generated from this reception.  As an example, there is a  dog named Molly in need of surgery, living with a foster family and the  proceeds from Pets, Portraits & Pastries will go towards Molly's surgery according to Animals for Life, located in  Middlebury, CT.

Heather Norris has carefully mounted over 15 dog portraits. What makes Heather Norris' portraits pop with pizzazz is her desire to invest time interviewing the dog's companions. She poses questions such as, If your dog was a person, what car would they drive? What job would they have? What would they wear?'  Such thorough interviews lead to whimsical and amazing portraits such as the black and white feature of 'Barley' dressed in a bow tie and top hat positioned with a baby grand piano or Peaches looking white and elderly like she is The Queen of England and Stella, the boxer, who knows her value, what she desires, and is eager to please.

Adele Johnson, owner of the classic 1740's venue, The Woodward House adores animals.  Adele's love of animals has spanned a lifetime as she has  rescued every stray she found and recalls bringing home turtles, kittens, chickens, birds, and snakes.  Today, Adele has  three dogs: Peaches, Cocoa, and Barley as well as Woodward House's resident chicken, Duly.

Heather and Adele have each agreed to offer unique promotions to every attendee so that attendees can experience dining at Woodward House and photography sessions with Heather Norris Photography.

The cost of the reception is $20 per person in advance, $25 at the door. Entrance includes a champagne and dessert reception featuring Heather Norris Photography.  To confirm attendance for Pets, Portraits and Pastries, call The Woodward House 203-266-6902.

About the Woodward House
4 The Green, Bethlehem, CT 06751.Corner of Rte. 132 and Rte. 61.  (203) 266-6902. The historic Woodward House centered in Bethlehem across from The Town Green has been reborn. Four beautiful rooms, each unique can accommodate 50 guests, for intimate to mid-size dining and meetings. The chef's award winning hand is evident not only in the restaurants artistic entrées, but equally in the incredible desserts. Voted "Best New Restaurant Litchfield County", CT Magazine, NY Times *** - CT Magazine *** - Hartford Courant ****, Top in Service & Décor, Zagat's. Open Wed., Thurs., Sun. 5 pm – 8 pm and Fri. & Sat. 5 pm – 9 pm. Closed Mon. & Tues. http://www.thewoodwardhouse.com/The_Woodward_House/Home.html

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com